Monitoring affordable workspace

What is affordable workspace?

Affordable workspace is workspace that can be rented for less than market rates. It could be workshops, studios, offices or co-working space. Affordable workspace is usually secured through planning permissions and is usually managed by specialist workspace providers.

The council Delivery Plan 2022 to 2026 sets out the council’s commitments for Southwark residents until 2026. It encourages Southwark residents to start more businesses, co-operatives and social enterprises, with the idea that the delivery of affordable workspaces will assist with this. The council has a target to deliver 10% of new employment floorspace as affordable for start-ups and existing and new small and independent businesses in Southwark.

Where can I find workspace in Southwark?

The workspace provider list

The council has a workspace provider list, in which developers and occupiers may choose workspace providers to work within their development, although developers may use suitable other providers.

The council interviews workspace providers and there is a screening process based on their:

• experience in providing managed workspace 
• support provided to tenants 
• ability to add local value 

Southwark Creates

Southwark Creates is a digital platform that shares information and resources for business support and growth. It supports artists, producers and small creative businesses in the borough. Affordable workspaces including studio spaces, offices and co-working spaces, as well as providers of affordable workspaces, are advertised on the platform. For more information visit the Southwark Creates workspace page.

Interactive map 

The map below locates all the affordable workspaces at different stages, from gaining planning permission to completing schemes. 

The affordable workspaces shown are what are known to Southwark Council. Most existing affordable workspaces are operated by third parties. The council is able to use its planning powers, based on justification through policy, to secure reduced rents and other conditions such as rent-free periods.

Affordable workspaces map

Business helpdesk

For more support regarding affordable workspaces visit the Business Support page. Alternatively, email the business desk at southwarkbusinessdesk@southwark.gov.uk.

Please note the council may not be able to resolve all queries as available affordable workspaces are mostly owned by third parties. Southwark Council has its main influence over existing affordable workspaces through provisions in Section 106 agreements, which put certain conditions on the use of the space.

Who is able to occupy the affordable workspace?

We seek to ensure that affordable workspace occupiers are from a specific sector that has a social, cultural or economic development purpose. Some examples may include:

• charities
• public health services
• voluntary and community organisations or social enterprises
• creative and artists’ workspace
• rehearsal and performance space and maker space
• occupiers for disadvantaged groups starting up in any sector;
• occupiers in support of educational outcomes through connections to schools, colleges or higher education
• existing businesses in Southwark that need to relocate
• small businesses located in Southwark

Eligibility to occupy different affordable workspaces can vary. Therefore, it's important to contact the workspace provider or workspace leaseholder for more details.

I am eligible to occupy the affordable workspace, how do I apply?

Please contact the workspace provider or leaseholder of the affordable workspace. Details of the owner of the affordable workspace can be found on the council’s affordable workspace map and the workspace provider list.

Case study - Peckham Levels

Background and history

Peckham multi-storey car park, owned by Southwark Council, had been underutilised for many years. A lease for the upper floor was given to an arts organisation to support cultural activities in 2002. In 2015, the further ‘levels’ of the car park were used for cultural and creative workspace.

It is now home to Hatch Peckham (a not-for-profit enterprise) which offers affordable co-working spaces for business and remote workers. It offers a range of affordable memberships including flexible with fixed desks and pay-as-you-go options.

Peckham Levels offers some studios at 20% and 50% of the full market rent to successful applicants.

Apply for a space 

It also provides the use of free community events space to local groups and charities. More information on the free community events space can be found on the Peckham Levels website.

Southwark Council, along with a range of community representatives, contributes to a steering group to maximise benefits to the community. Visit the Peckham Levels website for more information.

Facts and figures

Peckham Levels attracts members from the local community and from various backgrounds. It is a contributor to Peckham’s local job market as it employs full-time, part-time and project staff.

Below are some figures from the April to June 2022 quarterly report:

• approximately 73% of the members are from Southwark and 51% are from Peckham
• 135 jobs were created, of which half of the jobs were full-time
• 48% of the members were White; 9% were Mixed or from multiple ethnic groups; 25% were Black, African, Caribbean or Black British; 6% were Asian or Asian British; 1% identified as another ethnic minority group and the rest preferred not to say

What is the council doing to ensure new development includes affordable workspace?

The Southwark Plan 2022

The Southwark Plan 2022 ^{(PDF, 63.3mb)} is the development plan for Southwark. It's an important element of the council’s strategy to create a more affordable workspace. Policy 31 (Affordable Workspaces) ensures developments delivering over 500 sqm of employment floorspace provide a minimum of 10% of that space as affordable workspaces on site. It also requires that the space be used as an affordable workspace for at least 30 years.

Developers are required to submit an affordable workspace strategy with their application. We secure this as part of the grant of permission through a Section 106 agreement. This legal document generally covers the amount of affordable workspace, workspace provider details, the discount to market rent, service charges and any rent-free periods.

We monitor affordable workspaces to ensure they are built and managed as agreed between developers, affordable workspace providers and end users. If the developer does not comply, enforcement action can be taken.

How much workspace has been delivered so far as part of this new Southwark Plan policy?   

Since the introduction of P31 of the Southwark Plan 2022, there have been: 

We monitor affordable workspaces on an ongoing basis to ensure we report accurate information and to monitor whether we are meeting our targets for affordable workspaces.

There’s a lot of new development planned in Old Kent Road, where can I find out more about workspaces there?  

Old Kent Road is an Opportunity Area in Southwark and an area of regeneration. The area has an established business network that aims to engage with businesses and occupiers, as well as provide updates on the future development of the area. The Old Kent Road also has a dedicated workspace page, providing suggestions on workspace providers in Old Kent Road.

Where can I find out more? 

Sign up for a MySouthwark account to opt-in to our Planning Policy and/or Old Kent Road email updates.  

You can see the full policy in the Southwark Plan 2022 ^{(PDF, 63.3mb)}. We plan to publish further guidance for developers in forthcoming Supplementary Planning Documents.

Page last updated: 19 September 2023